My first visit to Siena was in February 1999. It was a wonderfully bright and crisp, sunny ( but cold ) morning. When we arrived, the shell shaped Piazza del Campo where the famous Palio horse racing is held twice a year, was very quiet. It was just a little too cool to do any painting.

The story was quite different for my next visit seven years later on a warm October morning. This time the Piazza was jumping with people and I was able to do a couple of sketchbook watercolours capturing the historic centre which has been declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. One of the sketches which you can see above I later did a studio version of.

Siena, Italy

Sketchbook study of Siena, Italy

Siena is one of Italy’s most visited tourist attractions, famous for its art, stunning medieval architecture, museums, cuisine and of course the Palio which featured in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace starring Daniel Craig. It’s no surprise that my limited edition print of Siena, captured on that first visit in 1999 has proved to be one of my most popular paintings of Italy. The warm golden colour of the stone work was partly achieved by using a Windsor and Newton colour called Raw Sienna. It was no doubt aptly named after the distinctive colour of the stone and rich fertile soil around Siena.

About alan

British artist Alan Reed, was born in Corbridge in the North of England into a family with a history of painting.
"I have been passionate about painting all my life and committed to helping others through my paintings".
Alan trained as an illustrator / graphic designer in the North of England and spent the early part of his career doing artist impressions of new building projects for architects.
Alan Reed specialises in landscapes, cityscapes and portraits both in watercolours and oils. His unique, fluid style captures the atmosphere of different settings from the drama of city life to the serenity and beauty of a rural landscape.
Alan Reed has had many successful exhibitions both in the UK and abroad including those at the Mall Galleries in London, Malcolm Innes Gallery in Edinburgh, Italy, the USA and the Middle East and has been a regular exhibitor of rowing scenes in the Stewards’ Enclosure at the Henley Royal Regatta.
2013 Winner of "The Artist's Prize" in the Royal Watercolour Society Competition 2013 with his painting "Jebel Akhdar, Oman". The painting was exhibited at the Bankside Gallery, London.
2011 Alan Reed - Winner of the "Circus Painting Prize" in the Bath Prize.
Alan Reed's painting of “Pump Room in the Snow” was highly commended in the Bath Prize.
2011 Alan Reed - One of the finals with his painting of "Grey Street" in the "Show me the Monet" programme shown on BBC2.
2010 Alan Reed - 1st runner up in "The Bath Prize" with his original painting of "The Royal Crescent, Bath".
Alan Reed's painting of the "The Roman Baths by Torchlight" was also highly commended in the Bath Prize.
Artist Alan Reed's approach to painting is described in a book entitled "Landscapes in Watercolour" by Theodora Philcox, an inspirational book which features the work of 23 leading watercolourists from around the world.
The Middle East is an area to which Alan has given his artistic attention thanks to a series of ongoing commissions for the government of Oman.
Alan’s work has become increasingly collectable and is widely represented internationally through private and corporate commissions including those for Royalty, Coutts Bank, Rolls Royce, Northern Rock PLC, several client’s private and corporate properties both in the UK and worldwide.
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